Sivanandalahari's 61st Verse

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aNkolaM nijabiijasantatirayaskaantopalaM suuchikaa

saadhvii naijavibhuM lataa kshitiruhaM sindhuH saridvallabham.h |

praapnotiiha yathaa tathaa pashupateH paadaaravindadvayaM

chetovRittirupetya tishhThati sadaa saa bhaktirityuchyate || 61||

 

 

This is one of the most beautiful verses of Sivanandalahari.

Shankara's Advaitic mind is at its greatest in this verse.

The translation is just like the Ankolam seeds move towards the tree

once they fall off the tree; just like a magnet attracts iron

fillings; just like a chaste woman desires her husband; just like a

tightly wound creeper winds itself with a tree; just like river

merges itself into the Ocean; devotion draws the devotee closer to

the Lord.

 

The greater inner meaning brings out the the great Advaitin in him.

Here, he talks about how the 'Jeevatma' draws closer and closer to

the 'Paramatma' in stages. The Jeevatma is going through the phases

of devotion, dejection and ignorance into love, oneness and true

Bliss. Initially it (Devotion) is like the Ankolam seed. Though it

goes closer to its goal, it can easily also go apart due to the

nature's elements like rain, water or wind. So, here the

relationship is close but fragile.

At the next stage, it is similar to the relationship between a

magnet and iron filings. The bond is much closer and more

instantaneous. But, even here, it can be separated by force. So, the

faith is true but not complete. In the next stage it is like the

relationship between a chaste woman and her husband. Her thoughts,

mind and actions are always in love of him. But, even here the

relationship is not complete as time may eventually separate them.

The next stage of evolution is like a tightly wound creeper to the

tree. Here the union cannot be separated even when the tree or the

creeper is cut. But, it is not yet complete.

Finally, the true union is when the mind is firmly fixed and the

evolution goes beyond the mind into the spirit. Now the thought of

the lord is un-separable from action. It is like how the river when

after flowing inside the ocean completely looses its identity and

becomes one with the Ocean. Once the river is inside the ocean, it

has no individual position.

This is Advaitam and its great meaning. Like how RamaKrishna

Parahamsa says, just like a salt goblet cannot be separated from the

ocean, individual true evolution cannot separate him from his

creator.

 

So, here the great emphasis is on devotion. there will be instances

when devotion, actions are all tested. But, keep faith and prayers

going. The Gita says "Shcanaihi Schanaihi" or Slowly Slowly,

devotion will evolve. It will change you, your actions, sadness will

give way to hope and hope to joy. There will be nothing to regret or

feel sad about because he has cleansed it. It is like Sunlight. you

don't ask sunlight to brighten your front yard because it was dark.

Just his presence will make it bright. And then, it is just his

road. Even Shankara, like the great Vedic and Upanishadic Rishis,

after having lived an entire lifetime contemplating, understanding

and analysing the great Vedas and after having drunk the nectar of

true Yoga, realised that the greatest path is the path of devotion.

 

 

"Aano bhadrah kritavo yantu vishwatah"...

Let noble thoughts come to us from everywhere